National Security Agency Director Gen. Timothy Haugh has confirmed that the recent hack on major American telecommunications companies, which was reportedly backed by the Chinese communist regime, is currently under investigation. The Wall Street Journal first reported the hack on October 5th. Hackers had gained access to several broadband providers, including AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies, for an extended period of time, posing a significant national security risk.
During a conference called The Cipher Brief, Haugh discussed the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He stated that intelligence agencies have observed that the CCP is aggressively targeting critical infrastructure and emphasized that they are still in the early stages of investigating this particular hack.
Lumen Technologies previously disclosed in August that hackers exploited vulnerabilities in their Versa Director software platform. While they did not name specific companies at the time, it has now been revealed that four U.S. targets and one Indian firm were affected. Lumen researchers believe this attack is connected to an ongoing hacking campaign known as “Volt Typhoon,” which is backed by the CCP.
Haugh expressed confidence in America’s ability to counter cyber threats from China due to its commitment to transparency. He highlighted how sharing information about these threats with agencies and companies has led to increased collaboration and effective countermeasures.
In addition to discussing cybersecurity issues, Haugh also touched upon China’s domestic challenges caused by CCP policies such as a collapsed real estate industry and diminishing foreign investment. He suggested that China’s heavy-handed approach may hinder its ability to address these crises effectively.
Haugh emphasized how American principles of freedom of belief and private ownership give the United States a competitive advantage in countering CCP influence. These principles foster innovation and dynamic public-private partnerships.
Collaboration between various entities is crucial because unlike democratic nations like America where power is decentralized, authoritarian regimes like China can leverage their entire state apparatus towards achieving their goals.
Haugh stressed the importance of continued collaboration among government agencies and private sector organizations in order to defend U.S interests against cyber threats posed by authoritarian entities like China.